What's TNT training all about anyway?

I've had friends ask what's all this Team in Training "training" about anyway, so here's the basic gist:

• The entire TNT group is the most inspiring, sincere, dedicated, supportive, caring group of people I have ever met - it's a cult of "nice" people with the mission to cure cancer.


• The training was developed by an exceedingly highly qualified group of folks and we're supported by live, in-person coaches, captains, mentors, and honorees (those fighting cancer). Here's my week:
• Monday and Wednesday - 6am circuit training for 45-60 minutes (no TNT buddies for this)
  Tuesday - Coach led track training 6pm for 2 hours: 1) warm-up 2)stretching 3) drills: toe and heel walking, high knees, butt kicks, lunges, grapevines, cheer-leaders 4) pace setting laps 5) core strengthening : plank, side plank, push ups, etc. (see pic) 6) stretching.
  
• Thursday - 6am buddy run for 5 miles (will increase to 7)



• Friday - rest/recovery day (stretching only)
• Alternating Saturdays - buddy run (half of longest distance run to date) or coach led long run (will do 14 miles on 8/9)
• Sunday - rest/recovery day (stretching only)

During every training, we all support teammates through hardships and successes with sarcasm and smiles. We're also quick to state ,"Suck it up, man! Try chemo!" Which brings me to my last point - many honorees have stated that they are inspired by our dedication to "the cause". However, it is them who inspire us. Sniff, sniff.

July 26: A Dead Rat, Two Tires, and a Waterfall

Saturday's long run at Waddell Creek (Big Basin Redwoods, HWY 1 side) was a GREAT 12 mile run. I got up at 5am and ate a bowl of oatmeal. Left the house by 6:30am for the TNT carpool to be at Waddell by 7:45am. The coast was SUNNY with an ever so mild breeze. This was the perfect coastal morning. Started across HWY 1 when Robin yelled over to us, "Are you leaving? How many miles?" She claimed she heard someone say "eight" and crossed the road with us. Coach Tim (that's him in the pic) did his usual prep-talk and mentioned that according to legend...back in the logging days a topper fell from a tree to a sure death when he landed on two tires causing him to bounce to his feet ready to top another tree. It has been said (by Coach Doug), that if you kick the tires you are assured a successful running event. On that note, we started off. Along with Robin, 5 of us (myself, Jen, Beth, Carrie, and Danielle) grouped together maintaining a 3min run: 2min walk interval at the same pace. After a few miles, we saw a fresh dead rat. Nice. The dappeled shaded dirt trail was lined by redwoods and ferns. We crossed occasional bridges crossing the smooth stone lined creek. Came across the tires, and just to be sure, we all kicked them with BOTH feet. A few walking hills - but this was GREAT! At the 6 mile mark, we came to the waterfall. Gorgeous. Along the way, we talked Robin not only into running the 12 miles for the day, but switching from the Nike Half-Marathon to the full! I think we talked Beth into going 12 today, as well. We kept each other going with positive sarcasm and good conversation - although, I can't remember what we talked about.

Felt pretty darn good (tired, of course) at the end of the run and ready for the potluck facing the beach. Had a bit of pasta salad, got a cuppa joe and made my way to the natural ice bath called the Pacific Ocean. Set my watch for 10 minutes and stood in the water up to my knees, letting the waves crash into me. Yah it was cold - but natural salts and the healing powers of the COLD made this the perfect end to a great 12 mile run. Couldn't have done it without my TNT peeps. GO TEAM! Almost forgot to mention how long the 12 miles took to run. Hmmm, I don't seem to recollect...

Training Schedule: Week of July 21

Cross training MONDAY was a strenuous day of watching my kids (and husband) dig holes in the sand then bury themselves. Ouch, I pulled a muscle.
TRACK TUESDAY was spent doing "hill repeats." What is a hill repeat? According to coach Tim, it is when you run up a hill, come down, then repeat. First we warmed up (a mile run?) Then did hill repeats on Miles Ave. in Los Gatos for about 15 minutes. We also had a "Long Run Round Table Discussion." All the good stuff about what to eat before, during, and after an endurance event and why you need to replenish simple carbs during an endurance event - gotta replace that glycogen or you'll feel really sick during and after the run. Also... that now is the time to experiment with foods, gu, clothing as we increase mileage into the double digits. I slirped down gu during my 12 mile run and what a difference it made! Back to my training schedule...

Circuit training on Wednesday with 15 minutes of stretching at the end.

During the first 2 miles of THURSDAY'S BUDDY RUN, I felt uncoordinated and awkward. That mellowed out and I got into a groove to complete 5 miles in 55 minutes WITH a 3min run: 2min walk interval.

So, J9...WHAT'S UP for SATURDAY's COACH LED RUN? Waddell Creek just south of Ano Nuevo. My goal...12 miles.

I am a Runner

"I am not a runner." I said this to Coach Tim a couple of times and his immediate response (both times) was, "The runner has always been inside you." Apparently, it was inside a box in my garage in the form of a 1981 Nimitz Elementary School Trophy. I found this relic, from President Carter's push to get kids physically fit, as I cleaned out the garage the day after I ran 12 miles. I do remember running relays and earning stickers for running laps in 5th grade, but what was that trophy for?

Training Schedule: Week of July 14

45 minutes Circuit training, then 10 min. of stretching on MON & WEDS went well. TUESDAY track training: 3 lap warm-up; drills - toe walking, heel walking, lunges, butt kicks, high knees. Then 1 mile at marathon pace (I did 12:30 roughly), 2 laps slightly faster, 1 lap faster still. Then a few more laps. I'm getting the pacing down and ran all of Tuesday without intervals - track is the night go for it! Keep in mind I'm still going for a 6 to 6.5 hour marathon. Ended with stretching (plank, side plank, etc.) Used a foam roller for the first time on my IT band! On THURSDAY'S 6am buddy run, I ran 5 miles at a 3:2 pace with mentor Jen. We started picking up the pace at the end - proof the walking aids recovery. For SATURDAY's "ON-YOUR-OWN" run, went back to senic Sawyer Camp and ran 8 miles at 3:2 with mentor Jen again and saw a few bunnies and deer. It felt good, although my calf and achilles are getting tight.

July 12: 12 Miles, 4 Blisters, 3 Bags of Ice

Today, I RAN 12 MILES. I have minimal damage - 4 blisters and two sore legs. Two of the blisters are on top of each other, so I'm not sure how to count that one. But, I'm jumping ahead...

It was a cool, gray Saturday morning at Sawyer camp – PERFECT day for a run. As always, I checked in with Coach Kris to tell her my morning mileage – 10 miles. Took off at 7:10am with a stomach full of Gu (Tri Berry flavor), running along a lake and through the trees alongside bunnies and lizards. But without my usual running mates, I was unsure of how I would make it without them. Luckily Margot began running with me and helped me to set a pace – we were both doing a 3:1 (3min run:1 min walk) interval. I had a rhythm – both breathing and movement. At mile 4 or so, I continued on without Margot. At the 10mile turnaround, I said to myself, “I’m going to shoot for 12.” Then the incline began. I ran a bit, but mostly walked at a brisk pace up the hill. Top of the hill at the 6 mile marker stood the TNT water-Gatorade-gel-pretzel-Pink Floyd-station. I hung out there for about 10-15 min and then Margot arrived! She took her break and we began the descent (walking to save knees). Began back to intervals at about 6.5 miles – I was doing it and felt good for a really long time! At mile 9, my calves were done and I felt blisters. As if on cue, mentor Kristy came up from behind and gave me the boost that I really needed to keep on going. Finally, MILE 12 (TWELVE!) ARRIVED. I stretched while talking to fellow TNTers. I walked. I drove home – with a quick stop to buy 3 bags of ice (21 lbs). Home. Shoes off (4 ripe blisters), sweatshirt on, fully clothed. Filled bathtub with a bit of cold water. Made hot cup of coffee. Into the bath with water up to knees, then my husband and kids dumped the ice onto my legs. 10 minutes – COLD, REALLY COLD - focused on blood rushing to muscles to heal 12 miles of damage. Coooool shower. Refueled with 4 scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese. Then sleep – 3 hours. On June 7th, I ran the longest distance I had ever run in my life – 3 miles. Today, July 12th, I ran 12.

Training Schedule: Week of July 7

Circuit training on Mon/Weds was good - worked hard. Track training Tuesday was GREAT (seriously, I mean it!) with my strong and steady supports (Dianne, Robin, and Andria. Hey, where was Beth?) Started off with drills: toe walking, heel walking, side stepping, grapevines, high knees, butt kickers, lunges (I think?). Then my group ran with Coach Doug (the Olympian). 6 laps total - alternating between slow pace, medium pace, then FAST pace, then repeated the laps. As Robin said, we set the bar so low for the slow pace, we could've limboed under it. I felt so good during the FAST pace - granted I couldn't talk and would not have been able to continue another lap. BUT, I could feel the rhythm to the breathing and running and I could definately tell that my core is strengthening up. Building up my six-pack! My second fast lap was 1 min 59 sec! I must say, I did well tonite! Oh, we did stretching at the end with otter pops in hand. Thursday's Buddy run - 5 miles. For Saturday's long run, I am now shooting for 10 miles - eek!

Training Schedule: Week of June 30

Monday - 30 min. brisk walk with my son, Super E, while chasing his remote control car; 45 min. circuit training, then 10 min. stretching. Coach Shaluinn (yah, she just ran in the Olympic Marathon Trials) took us strong and steady folks through Track Training Tuesday. Focused on new drills (getting the flash dance thing down - HIGH knees) and GREAT stretching in the end. 30 minutes of cross training Wednesday, core training, and LOTS of stretching :) Thursday's Buddy Run pretty much sucked for me. Talk about an off day! I was tired and felt uncoordinated for all but 2 min. of the 4 miles. Luckily, tomorrow is a designated rest day.